| MARK PANSON
(Mark Pinson) 
The designer responsible for the promising projects of Citroen. The main thing in working on the C6 project was to get the Citroen, and not another car. Therefore, we carefully studied the brand’s heritage in this segment, the experience of other manufacturers. We highlighted the large wheels and large base and engine size. The most difficult thing was to reconcile the sedan and the hatchback: after all, in the luxury class there are entirely sedans, while the Citroen has no three-volume bodies. This created the greatest difficulty for us. The solution arose by itself. We cut off the roof line a little earlier, having imitated the trunk lid, and remained faithful to the best traditions of Citroen. |
MULTIPLIERS AND WORKS
When the budget ceases to be decisive in choosing a car, other factors come into play - for example, a noble origin. Citroën is rich in tradition - one can only guess which of the models of the past inspired designers more: CX or SM, born in the period when Citroën owned the Italian Maserati? Citizens themselves say - the "sixth" has passed something from the legendary DS. But even without genealogical analogies, the stylish and noble C6 is enough.
The technical components of the success formula are the improved hydroactive suspension of the third generation, which has worked well on the C5 model, plus the latest diesel engine. And of course, as usual with Citroen, there are many pleasant and necessary little things.
More than half a year has passed since the debut at the Geneva Salon last spring until the meeting with the “live” car. During this time, C6 was liked by French President Jacques Chirac, who ordered two cars in his garage at once and even before the start of official sales appeared more than once in the Six at ceremonies. This eventually turned out to be a work.
IN THE HONORARY PLACE
It's a gloomy December day, it rains in the morning. The organizers of the test drive are reassuring - France met the previous group of journalists with snow.
But there is no silver lining: the weather outside the window only emphasizes the warmth and comfort of the cabin. It is presidential (now I have every right to such an epithet) can be accommodated in the back, no less comfortable driving. The spatial adjustment of the seat and steering wheel allows you to find a comfortable position for a person of any complexion. The seat is electric, but the manual steering wheel adjustment does not correspond to the class of the car.
The driver's seat offers a magnificent all-round view. It is especially pleasant to observe what is happening behind, through the rear concave glareless glass. I remember that it was concave at the Citroen-CX. But the long hood is not visible: you can only guess where the front bumper line goes. Confidence in the driver is added by parking sensors: they are installed in both the front and rear bumpers.
I got, you can say, a rare C6 with a three-liter gasoline engine 215 hp The share of such cars will be about 20% - all the rest are diesel engines that are very popular in Europe. For comparison: a C6 diesel engine with a volume of 2.7 liters develops 208 hp. and with the best accelerating dynamics, it provides the same maximum speed of 230 km / h, being a quarter more economical than the opponent.
Three-liter gasoline engines are also put on the expensive version of the C5, "Peugeot 407" and "Peugeot 607". The engine is not new, but solid and high-torque. In combination with a six-speed “automatic”, a good working power unit was obtained.
CARPET PLANE
From the first kilometers you note the reference ride. The pendant has always been one of the brand's strengths. For its top model, Citroen is especially distressed. In addition to the “comfort” and “sport” modes, one of which can be selected by pressing a key behind the gear selector, the on-board computer itself sets the suspension setting corresponding to the road situation.
On a smooth, without sharp turns of the motorway, the car seemed to soar above the road. Suspension in SkyHook mode. The body took "sky" as the reference point, and the suspension elements work as if the wheel bearing point was not on the ground, but at a certain constant distance above it, while maintaining the parallel surface of the road. Hence the feeling of a “carpet-plane”, but it comes at speeds close to a hundred.
On a regional-scale road - turns, roundabouts. What a “carpet-plane” is it! C6 descends from "heaven" to earth, and the suspension goes into road mode (RoadHook - literally, "tied to the road"). A fulcrum on the ground, elastic elements track irregularities and dampen vibrations. Each wheel is adjusted at a frequency of 2.5 milliseconds or 400 times per second. Therefore, the "descent" and "rise" of the C6 aircraft occurs completely imperceptibly and naturally. In total, the suspension has 16 fixed settings in accordance with the road conditions.
The working elements of the hydropneumatic suspension are seven spheres - one for each of the wheels, plus additional ones: one for the front suspension and two for the rear. Having received a command, they reduce the clearance of the car at speeds above 110 km / h, and also support the body parallel to the road at a given height, regardless of the number of passengers and baggage.
The C6 suspension also has extreme operating algorithms, for example, when moving a speed bump or potholes on the road. The computer manages to give an impulse to the elastic elements in order to extinguish the impact energy as much as possible. Special suspension settings facilitate driving on paving stones and other coatings that provoke a rebound of the wheel.
"Speed bumps" on my way did not meet. There were no road pits either - in France, some of the best roads in Europe. But on the paving stones on the Champs Elysees and in front of the Palace of the Disabled, we managed to ride as a passenger. Quite comfortable, although it was not possible to completely get rid of the vibrations!
SAFETY OF FLIGHTS
"Citroen" "six" entered the "constellation" of the safest cars: five stars during the EuroNCAP crash test say a lot.
C6 also shows respect for pedestrians: he was the first in Europe to receive the highest score for this. In the event of a pedestrian and bumper contact, the sensors give a signal to the pyrotechnic cartridges tossing up the hood by 65 mm in order to soften the head pound on the most rigid part of the car - the engine.
Machine safety is enhanced by other devices. The readings of the speedometer and navigator projected onto the windshield do not distract the driver from the road. The involuntary lane change warning lamp provides a vibration signal to the driver's seat if the indicator was not turned on during the maneuver. An automatic rear wing lid improves aerodynamics and stability on the road. I myself saw how it moved to 70 km / h and leaned more strongly at speeds below 130.
The hand brake on C6 received an electric drive. Pressing the button and the handbrake are tightened just enough so that the car remains motionless on slopes of different steepness.
